Higher Education Issues

Student Loan Options

Receiving a degree in dentistry is costly. In 2017, the average educational debt per graduating dental school senior was $ $287,331. Most dental students rely on federal student loans to finance their dental education. In 2016, nearly 70 percent of graduating dental students reported using Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (Direct Loans) to pay for dental school and, to a lesser extent, Federal Grad PLUS Loans (61.8 percent). Any legislative proposals that would cut or eliminate federal loan programs would simply narrow the options that are available to dental students to finance their education.

The ADA also support numerous federal loan forgiveness and repayment options including, but not limited to, to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, the National Health Service Corps Students to Service Program, the Faculty Loan Repayment Program and the Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program. ADA will continue to advocate to fully fund these programs.

What Can You Do About it?

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) are advocating that any reauthorization of the Higher Education Act include lowering interest rates, allowing grad students to use federally subsidized loans, and extending the period of deferments. Now is the time to make your voice heard. Use the link provided below to reach out to your legislators now; Write, Call, Tweet your elected officials so they know where you stand on the issues.